Combination bench and folding cot.



H. W. HOWELL.

COMBINATION BENCH AND FOLDING COT.

APPLICATION FILED FB.9,1915. 1,176,963. Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- R w E N E W N E A M w THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c

H. W. HOWELL.

COMBINATION BENCH AND FOLDING COT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. i915.

1,17 963. Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

l 0 4 I A THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

HERBERT WATSON HOWELL, 0F WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.

COMBINATION BENCH AND FOLDING- GOT.

Application filed February 9, 1915.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT WATSON Hownr. of the city of lVinnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Benches and Folding Cots, of which the following is the specification.

The invention re ates to household furniture and more particularly to a combination bench and folding cot and the object of the invention is to provide a combined article of furniture the construction of which is such that it may be readily extended to form a cot and is readily folded to convert it into a bench.

.A further object of the invention is to provide an article of furniture of simple and durable construction the arrangement of the parts of which is such that the device may be completely folded for transportation or storage.

A still further object of the invention is to construct the combination bench and cot so that a storage compartment is formed therein in the folded position, such compartment being useful for receiving the customary bed clothing.

WVith the above objects in view the invention consists essentiallyin the arrangement and construction of parts hereinaftermore particularly described and later pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents aside view of the combination article as it appears when folded or closed to form a bench. Fig. 2 represents a front view of the article as it appears in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the article as it appears when extended to form a cot. Fig. 4: represents a longitudinal sectional view centrally through the cot. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the article when folded. Fig. 6 represents an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view through the joint formed between the lazy tong levers.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

1 and 2 are sets of lazy tongs, each set being formed from similar pairs of intersecting equal length levers 3 and tpivotally connected centrally by bolts 5 and having the upper end of adjacent pairs of levers fastened together pivotally by bolts 6 and the lower ends of the adjacent levers crossed and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916. Serial No. 7,115.

also pivetally connected together by bolts 7. It will be noticed that all of these bolts are fitted with screw heads so that they can be sufficiently tightened by means of a screw driver. The inner ends are supplied with nuts. 1V ashers 7 are supplied on the bolts between tl e levers of the lazy tongs to allow of free movement. The opposing inner le vers of the sets of tongs are connected by equal length cross bars the cross bars being fastened to the levers by wood screws 9 and being located adjacent the lower joints formed between the levers.

10 and 11 are angularly disposed brace bars having their opposite ends secured to the cross bars and to the inner levers of the lazy tongs.

12 is a terminal transverse head strip permanently secured to opposin levers at one end of the combination bench and cot and 13 is a transverse terminal closure foot board secured to opposing lazy tongs at the opposite end of the combination bench and cot.

14 is a heavy canvas or similar flexible top piece having the sides thereof fastened to the lazy tongs by means of upper wood screws '14: and the ends thereof fastened to the transverse head and foot boards by means of wood screws 15 and 16 supplied with suit able washers 17. Reinforcing cross bands 14 are sewn at suitable intervals to the under side of the top piece and have their ends turned over the edges of the top piece and sewn down to the same. The wood screws 14 pass through the bands and washers 1 1 are supplied on the wood screws and bear against the bands.

18 is a cover fastened by means of hinges 19 to the head strip 12 and forming the bench seat when the tongs are closed in. The cover is supplied with side strips 20 and 21 andwith a front cross strip 22, the side strips appearing to the sides of the lazy tongs when folded, while the front strip closes over the foot. board and holds the tongs against spreading after the cover has been closed down.

23 is a hook secured to the foot board 13 and 24L is an eye screwed into the under side of the strip 22. The book is designed to be engaged with the eve as shown in Fig. 2

when the tongs are folded in.

25 and 26 are a pair of flexible straps having their ends connected with the lazv tongs and with the cover. these straps being an ranged to prevent the cover falling too far v the flexible top l t.

, provided.

back when the same is thrown up to the cover 18 or as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. A pivoted cleat 29 is secured to the terminal head strip 12 and is arranged to hold the gate closed in the folded position of the cot.

In referring to 5 it will be seen that a storage compartment 30 is formed 1n the folded article, in which material, such as bedding can be placed, entrance being had to the storage compartment through the gate. This storage compartment is closed in at the top by the canvas, at the front by the terminal foot board and at the bottom by the cross bars.

It will be seen from observing Figs. 1 and 2 that when the tongs are folded and the cover closed down a very compact bench is In the folded position it is impossible for the levers to spread as the foot board is caught behind the strip 22. The hook and eye prevent the bench cover 18 from being accidentally raised.

When it is desired to use the device as a cot it is only necessary to release the hook, throw up the bench cover, release the gate and pull outthe tongs as far as permitted by One can then recline on the cot so formed and the bench cover can be used as a holder for a pillow.

I wish to point out that by crossing the lower ends of the levers forming the lazy tongs, I provide a very substantial cot as there is an increased spreading action given the tongs by this construction, which results in the maintainingof a particularly taut top when one is resting on the cot.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A combination bench and folding cot comprising, lazy tong side members formed from intersecting pairs of inner and outer levers pivotally connected together, suitably braced cross bars connecting opposing inner levers, said cross bars being located adjacent the lower pivot connections of the adjacent side levers, a head strip and a closure foot board connecting the terminal levers of the tongs, a flexible top having the ends thereof secured to the head strip and to the foot board and the sides secured to the upper ends of the tongs, said flexible top limiting the extension of the tongs and forming in the extension thereof, afoot, a

bench cover pivotally'secured to the head strip and provided at the front with the cross strip, said bench cover being designed to close down over the contracted tongs to form a seat and having the cross strip passble top having the sides thereof connected 7 r to the upper ends of the lazyotongs and forming 1n the extended position of the tongs, a cot, a hinged cover closing over the tongs in the collapsed position thereof and forming a bench, cross bars connecting the opposing pairs of tongs, and a permanent foot closure memberanda releasable head ing in front of the foot board and locking closure member carried by the tongs and arranged to inclose, in the collapsed position of the tongs, a storage compartment located between the flexible top and the cross bars, .as and for the purpose specified.

Signed at Winnipeg this 3rd day of De- 7 cember 191 1. l V

HERBERT WA'rson'i-rowELL;

In the presence of' G. S. Boxsonoi-n' P..Fosrnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. C. 

